Final Compare-and-Contrast Research Paper (20th Century Art History) Essay

Final Compare-and-Contrast Research Paper (20th Century Art History) - Essay Example Pollock’s dentist and his daughter posed for the literal portrait. It won a competition, and many critics and writers thought it was satirical, probably because of the expressions on the subjects’ faces; but this is a plain picture of honest Quaker or Shaker simplicity, according to its creator. Its message is simple, addressed to Americans by an American: hard work is its own reward, it offers clean living and an uncomplicated life. It is highly detailed and meticulous, to reflect the message. Its plainness is not without ambiguity, which appeals to art students and the general public, and aroused discussion even 80 years after Wood painted it. It has become an iconic effigy, copied and satirized hundred of times. (Art Institute of Chicago 2004) People put their own meaning into the holes that ambiguity leaves, so American Gothic is interpreted to convey a number of messages at different times. It is strictly representational, and its form and content place it immediately within a particular region in the US, but its appeal can be described as abstract in the sense that it stimulates as much discussion as if people were trying to discover what it really depicts. The question is: what does this picture really show the viewer? The answer depends on individual viewers and how much each knows of its history, and the life of the artist Wood. He painted a picture that on first sight looks bland and clean, with a strong Mid-West focus. His message, whether intended or sub-consci ous, is only visible if one knows enough background. Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist), is a painting by Jackson Pollock that he created in 1950. ‘It is impossible to make a forgery of Jackson Pollocks work,’ Time magazine critic Robert Hughes, an Australian, claimed in 1982. (National Gallery of Art 2009) And perhaps he was right. But it is also almost impossible to replicate a child’s

Critical Theory in Sociology

Critical Theory in Sociology The critical theory is a social theory, which is known to criticise and trying to change society as a whole. The traditional theory only described and explained society. Theorists such as Max Horkheimer, T.W. Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, Leo Lowenthal and Reich Fromm, were the main theorists who took part in the Frankfurt School, In Germany in the late 1920s at the institute fur Sozialforschung. The Frankfurts schools theory of society is very negative about how society runs, reasons for this is the increase in capitalism, and that societies social structure has been separated, (Swingewood 200, p. 130). Throughout the essay, there shall be more information about the Frankfurt school, and what they believed and wanted to change in society, also more information about what is critical theory and what it is critical of in society, also more information about the traditional theory. The work of Frankfurt school become very influential in the social sciences in the 1960s. Culture industry wor ked to put together the role of social struggles in the production and reproduction of society. Culture industry worked like an apparatus which brought together individuals and got them doing and thinking the same. The critical theory may be defined as a theory of setting humans free of human enslavement, and manipulation. Both Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno argued that critical theory is the theory of human emancipation based on free capitalist society, the bourgeoisies controlled the working class through manipulation of interests of politics, media, culture etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦as a silent dominant force. The critical theory argues that there are various types of manipulation, such as; Ideological, this consists of justifying decisions made by enforcing ones thoughts onto another, secondly, Cultural, this consists of the attempt to commercialise to maintain the status quo of the working class. Finally the psychological manipulation which means that we are more interested in other peoples life and this is because of the decline of the father figure in many families. Horkheimer argued that a capitalist society can only be changed if it becomes more democratic is it could be that all conditions of social life that are controllable by human beings depend on real consensus in a rational society (Horkheimer 1982, 249-250). Horkheimer argued that the only way in which we could fix problems in society, was by introducing the critical theory. There are four main points for the Critical theory these are; Reflective, this refers to that facts can be revised separately from other things that we may have to learn such as values. Dialectical; this refers to humans understanding of the world changing as the world changes too. Critical; which refers to stating what is wrong with the current society, and coming up with reasonable ideas on how to change it. Immanent critique is the main support for critical theory.(Adorno, 1991) Critical theorists argued that Marx did not foresee some key developments on capitalist society. Especially, centralisation and various mechanisms of ideological, cultural and psychological domination, associated in particular with the development of a commercialised mass media. Critical theorists conclude that the working class was no longer the revolutionary agent foreseen by Marx. The only way in which theorists could change the way society was is by firstly stating what is wrong with the current society, has to identify the actors to change it and finally it has to provide achievable goals for social transformation. Any truly critical theory of society, Has as its object human beings as producers of their own historical form of life (Horkheimer, 1992, 21). Critical theorists have argued that humans need to become more aware of how science and other type of facts and knowledge work together in creating oppression.Critical theory identifies facts and everyday life as the foundation for human beings, in waiting that people will realise the power and their influences on their lives and be able to overcome them. Fredrick Taylor introduced science in the 19th century, Henry Ford among many other people was influenced by Fredrick Taylor by his ideas on how to improve and raise production. By being influenced by Fredrick, Henry Ford creating an assembly line. By doing this Ford was able to reduce hours and save money, at the same time produce more. This idea became very popular, companies were able to produce much more with less work due to the right machinery. Instrumental reason refers to the opening up of reliable modes of organisations, the critical theory criticises the instrumental reason. The reason which why critical theory is critical of instrumental reason is because it raises action, which means this would be a means to an end. The instrumental reason sees individuals as instruments instead of humans this was introduced by positivistic science. As mentioned before, in the concentration camps humans were not seen as humans, but they were seen as objects. (Swingewood, 2000). Another example of this could be the rise in tuition fees in 2010, this change would benefit large institutions, especially the government, however it does not benefit the people who would mostly experience the change of this such as students. Critical theory is also critical of mass culture, mass culture refers to individuals following and believing what the media say. An example of this can be such as girls believe it is always best to be slim. Culture industry refers to anything that gets in the way of freedom. The Frankfurt school gives us useful information about the process of how society changed from traditional culture and modernism in the arts to a mass produced media orientated society. Society has become much more media orientated as technology has become much more advanced, The traditional theory was originally known as the positivism theory, however, Horkheimer labelled the traditional theory. The traditional theory was based more on facts, the more facts we had about everything, the more knowledge we have. The traditional theory did not see people as humans, instead humans were looked at as things for example in the concentration camps individuals who died, were not looked at as humans dying, but a specimen. Unlike the critical theory, the traditional theory only explains how society is in the present time, where as the critical theory looks at society, what is wrong with it and aims to change it. Positivism functions ideologically, this is done by promoting passive behaviour. Habermas argued that a free society should let people communicate freely without anything getting in the way, when people can do so, this would be known as a free society. Positivists ignore the roles of humans in society, they tend to treat society as a natural process. Habermas did not agree with Adorno and Horkheimer views that they can identify what is wrong with society and change it, also change the whole technological interaction with nature (Habermas, 1971). Horkheimer continued to argue that critical theory should focus on society being complete, e.g. how society became how it is in the present time. He argued this could be done by bringing together major social sciences such as geography, economics, sociology, history, science etc (Bohman, 1996). Adorno and Horkheimers book Dialectic of Enlightenment, which is a text about critical theory, which explains what the Frankfurt School considered as the failure of Enlightenment, the book was published in 1944 in New York. It is one of the main core texts about Critical theory. In the book we can see how Enlightenment norms had turned into their opposite, how democracy had produced fascism and reason had produced unreason. In conclusion to the above, we can see that there are many different views on how society runs, and as we can see is whether society is fine the way it is, or what should be changed if its not. The critical theory is obviously critical of society as it is now, The critical theory is mainly critical of how society is in terms of exploitation of humans., especially jobs such as labour work. However, the critical theory can be negatively criticised as it always looks upon society negatively. Horkheimer argued that the a theory can only be critical if it is explanatory, therefore critical theory should successfully explain what is wrong with the current society and what is needed to make it right, (Bohman, 1996). As we can see, there are many factors that affect society, also we can how society brain washes individuals to thinking that they live in an equal society system.

Macbeth :: essays research papers

Two characters that have flaws that are the causes of their downfall is Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth's flaw is that she makes her husband kill king Duncan; she feels guilty after she does this, so she commits sucide. Macbeth's flaw is what leads him to kill; his ambtion and selfishness leads to his death. Lady Macbeth's flaw is that she convinces Macbeth that he isn't a man unless he goes through with the murder of Duncan. She threatens his manhood by saying "when you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more that what you were, you would be so much more the man" (act 1, scene VII, l 49-51). After Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan, she feels guilty and says "here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand" (act 5, scene 1, l 35-36). Lady Macbeth becomes mentally ill; she kills herself because she feels so guilt. Macbeth's flaw is that he feels the need to prove his manhood, which eventually leads to his downfall. Macbeth was not secure in his manhood. So he feels the need to prove hinself to Lady Macbeth. After he proves he is a man by killing Duncan, he thinks he has alot of power to do whatever he wants. After Macbeth commits the crime, he feels that his soul can never be cleansed, no matter what he does. He said "They pluck out mine own eyes, will all great neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (act II, scene III, l 58-62). This shows that he really doesn't want to kill Duncan, but he does it in order to prove himself to Lady Macbeth, and to become the king. By the end he has ne fear, and has not only killed Duncan but also many other people such as Siward, Banquo and Macduff's family. Macbeth proves that he can be a man by killing, but in the end he can not believe that he we nt through with all that. All that he did eventually leads to the death of his love, Lady Macbeth, which is the original reason he feels the need to prove himself.

The Low-Wage Worker wanting the American Dream

What she truly experienced was someone stepping out of her comfort zone into a life that she was not born onto. Again, though, her main idea was to find a job and be able to survive income for expenses. In reality, those working in a low-wage job are just trying to survive, and hoping by the end of the day they have broke even, even though most don't. In Winter Coat, Terrier Griffith, tells the story of what its like growing up poor and wanting to be different. Griffith states that â€Å"the thing about being poor is that you know what it means to be poor – and there's always someone poorer than you. (Tea 61 ) Griffith talks about what it was like wearing hand me downs, being in the free lunch program, and other classifications,' like standing in the free lunch line, that sometime embarrassed her. Her mother wanted her to have a future different than the one she was raising Griffith in. Because of the pressure from her mom, she realizes that â€Å"without the protection econ omic stability provides, this is no room for failure. She had no room to fail. † (Tea 64) She was raised to take the ‘safe road. Griffith talks about the class of people, especially by what they are wearing, and explains that by comparing the different coats people wear on the train that she rides. She realizes that many people continually deal tit wanting the American Dream everyday. â€Å"What about the American Dream, the theory that with hard work and perseverance people can transcend in the class in to which they are born? Want to believe in it, but I don't. Class is about more than money; its about safety and security, knowing that what you have today, you will have tomorrow.It's about having faith and feeling safe in the knowledge that when my coat gets worn out, there will be other coats. † (Tea 65) No matter what class people are in, I believe everyone is trying to live out their definition of the American Dream. The cost for this hope can be life hanging . In The Just-Add-Water Kennedy's and Barbecue Bread Violence, Polyester, starts off her story focusing on the American Dream. Polyester states, â€Å"Fewer than one percent of Americans break out of the class they are born into. † (Tea 67) She goes on to tell about her parents and their dream of class jumping, and how they devote their lives to it.To her parents, the working class neighborhood, where they lived, was only temporary. Her parents wanted better. Even her grandparents wanted better. It was embedded into each generation that you could move higher up in class, with just the right job, the right education, and the right privileges. Her family struggled with this for years. The only purpose of the â€Å"children† was to become rich. When her father landed a job that provided more money, her parents felt that they had fulfilled their dream, the American Dream. Polyester states: â€Å"Their dream for us hadn't died.Higher education, to my parents, was still a w ay for their children to jump class†¦ No matter how hard they tried to turn us into just-add-water Kennedy's, all fifths posturing failed, and so did college. The bottom line was that were lower class, and there was no way we could be any different. (Tea 73) Though the stories are different, the results are the same. Just as Polyester states, very few Americans break out of the class they are born into, though many want to believe its possible. In Rehearing's journey, she tries to become lower class, but does not succeed.She sets rules and limits, whereas, most lower class don't have rules or limits, only their basic need is to survive. The lower class tries to make it to make it to the next month, with the hope that tomorrow they won't need as much. Their dream is that their children will do better than they did, with the hopes that one day, just maybe class can be jumped, if not by them, then maybe their children. When it comes to the relationships of the lower class, look at the relationship Polyester had with her parents. Her parents tried and pushed hard to come out of the class they were in.They tried to fit in, to be different. It was embedded into them by their parents, that they were not worth anything unless they succeeded. This was their reward. Her parents pushed, both them selves and their children. When her father failed, he ‘couldn't deal with the shame' and later committed suicide, only apologizing to his parents for failing. To him, to succeed was to be rich; to fail was to be poor. After his death, her family went their separate ways. Polyester's family was only ‘together' to become rich, to jump a class. But when life showed them that they couldn't they didn't stay together.I don't think it matters which class you are, if your family falls apart, it was together for the wrong reasons. I look at my own family situation when I read all three of these stories. Grew up in a lower class family. Both parents had to work to make en ds meet. We were not the poorest of the poor, but there were times where we had to rely on the DOD pantry to eat or sign up for help at Christmas just to get presents. L, in no means, thought I would ever stay there. My parents never pushed me to be better then they were, but believe they wanted more for my siblings and me. My parents divorced when I was young and both remarried.I lived with my mom and step dad, where money was tight and I wore hand me downs from my cousin. My dad and his wife had a different life. Though both worked, their kids always had new clothes, and the latest video games. They had a new house, where mine flooded every time it rained. I was on the border of lower and middle class. I went on to Bible College, where I pursued a dream of working in children's ministry. To my father, it was a waste of my time, as I would make no money from it. When was done, I found myself working in a call center, at a low wage job, making just enough to make ends meet.After I w as married I became a nanny, barely making minimum Wage and having to pay my own taxes. Now we had one child. My husband and I struggled for years, as he was laid off from his job and then tried to start his own business. There were many health issues that got ignored because we didn't have health insurance. I tried selling Mary Kay Cosmetics, buying into he notion that ‘I could be rich like her' if followed the dream Mary Kay laid out for us. The ‘dream' ended as a business loss, and costing us more, than I had put into it at the beginning.Reading all three of these accounts had me relating to many of the situations the authors found them selves in. Griffith accounts of being poor and wanting to be different, reminded me of when I was younger and use to tell stories of my parents being a pilot or working for the government, just so I could fit in. Though the story wasn't true, the desire to fit it was deep rooted, and to this day I even find myself wanting to dress icie r, and even more up-class, just so the world won't know I am still lower class. Who is to know that my clothes came from goodwill or a garage sale?Polyester's parents remind me of my own father, who believes that a stay-at- home mom doesn't amount to much, and that a college degree really shows what you are worth. My father wasn't the extreme like Polyester's father, but am continually asked about how much I make, or when I will graduate. I have been promised many things, as long as I finish my degree, because to him, that is all that matters. As for Rehiring, the people she worked with in err low-wage jobs remind me of myself sometimes, I still don't think she could ever truly feel the true emotions of what it is like to be in a low class family.Struggling to make ends meet. Would love to switch places with her and see if she could handle the stress that seems to follow when you are a low-class working family. I have dreamed of living the American Dream. To own a home, have good sc hools for my children to attend, to not worry about how much I spend at the grocery store, or even be concerned when or if the bills will get paid. Want a life where health insurance isn't an issue, and I'm not living paycheck to paycheck. I have to believe its possible to obtain it, to have hope.

The Many Uses of Baking Soda

The Many Uses of Baking Soda – Informative Speech 1 The Many Uses of Baking Soda General Purpose: To Inform Specific Purpose: The audience will learn about baking soda, the many different ways that it can be used to promote their health, cleaning uses around the home, cooking, in the home uses, and enhancing beauty. Thesis: Baking soda is very low cost, effective alternative to cleaning around the home, promoting health, and enhancing beauty. Introduction I)Fellow classmates, what if I told you that what I have in this small box has been used to promote health, used in cooking, great for cleaning, and enhancing beauty since the 1700’s. Additionally, what if I told you that it only cost about a $1. 00, and is used in two out of every three homes in America. However, most people don’t realize all of the great uses that baking soda has. Well, I am going to tell you just how powerful this stuff actually is. II)With the uncertain state of our country’s economy today, saving a few cents or a few dollars is what a lot of us are doing. Baking soda, for about a dollar, will let you save on a product with so many uses that you may be surprised by some of them. III)Many of you may already have a box of baking soda in your home that you use now and again, though you may not have yet realized that this product is far more powerful than it appears to be. I have done a substantial amount of research on the benefits of baking soda, and found that it is a low cost box of wonder. IV)According to Tip King, author of â€Å"Resourceful and Ingenious uses of Baking Soda†, â€Å"You will find that there are so many tips and ideas on the many uses of baking soda that you will be able to save dollars, yes count them, dollars, each and every week in your home†. Transition: First I will tell you just some of the things that baking soda can clean. ) Body I. â€Å"According to the web site â€Å"Life Hackery†, baking soda can clean and remove odors from a multitude of things inside and outside of your home. † (75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda, 2008) A. Baking soda is very effective in the kitchen. 1. Clean the fridge with it. 2. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse, for a clean free-flowing coffee maker. 3. Wash your fruits and vegetables with it. 4. Remove grease from pots and pans. . A combination of baking soda and vinegar will break down fatty acids into soap and glycerin, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. B. It can also be used for general cleaning. 1. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by adding a cup to the wash. Combine with water to make a paste for polishing stainless and chrome. 2. Clean garbage cans. 3. Clean retainers and dentures. 4. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution. 5. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain. C. Baking soda removes odors. 1. Put an open box of baking soda in the refrigerators to remover odors. 2. Sprinkle it in shoes, boots, or slippers to eliminate foul odors. 3. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor. 4. Sprinkle it in your cats litter box to absorb bad odor. D. You can do all of your cleaning and deodorizing with a cup or less of this little white powder called â€Å"baking soda†. (Transition: Now that I have discussed many of the ways that you can use baking soda to clean and odor-free your home, let us take a look at how baking soda can be used in promoting ones health. II. There are many health benefits that can be attributed to baking soda. I found just a few at howstuffworks. com. (Uses for Baking Soda: Health and Beauty) 1. Use it as a mouthwash to freshen your breath. 2. Apply it to rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy. 3. Relieve a canker sore by using it as a mouthwash. 4. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water. (Transition: Since we have talked about many of the ways you can use baking soda to promote your health, let us talk about ways that baking soda can be used to enhance your beauty. ) III. Baking soda is one of the few products on the market for cleaning your teeth or settling an upset stomach. While we have many more choices today, baking soda still does the trick for dozens of health and beauty tasks. 1. 1 tsp baking soda mixed with 1/4 tsp hydrogen peroxide. Mix into paste Treat cold sores by dabbing with baking soda. 2. Rub a baking-soda paste onto your elbows to smooth away rough skin. 3. Soak tired feet in a basin of warm water with 3 tablespoons baking soda. 4. Blackhead Remover Recipe: 50/50 Baking Soda & Water. Use gently on your skin to exfoliate. 11 Easy Food Facials – Homemade Recipes, 2007) (Transition: The lists of uses for this wonderfully versatile product are longer than my allotted time; I’ve told you only a few. Perhaps I’ve sparked your curiosity enough that you’ll look at that little yellow box a bit differently. Conclusion I. Found in superstores, grocery stores, and small markets all across the world, baking soda is ve ry effective in it’s multitude of uses which can help and enhance your life. II. For about a buck, you can go out and buy yourself a box of baking soda and begin reaping all of the benefits of this great product. It will be a dollar well spent. Bibliography 11 Easy Food Facials – Homemade Recipes. (2007, May 3). Retrieved March 8, 2010, from Tipnut: http://tipnut. com/11-easy-food-facials-homemade-recipes/ 75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda. (2008). Retrieved March 5, 2010, from Life Hackery: http://lifehackery. com/2008/07/22/home-4/ Uses for Baking Soda: Health and Beauty. (n. d. ). Retrieved March 5, 2010, from How Stuff Works: http://health. howstuffworks. com/uses-for-baking-soda-health-and-beauty-ga. htm